Indie Gems: Lost in Translation

We're all trying to find our place in life.

 

I get that feeling every now and then. Wondering what I should be doing in life. Wondering if I took the right career path and made the right choices. I'm happy, and I like to think everything worked out the way I wanted. (Except for me being rich. Yeah, that would be nice.) All kidding aside, I felt like I could really relate with the characters in this film, despite being in a "different place" so to speak in my life.

 

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an actor who's star is fading. He's in Tokyo doing a whiskey commercial when he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) a young woman who follows her photographer husband on his assignment. She's not exactly sure what to do with herself at this point. Her husband doesn't pay a lot of attention to her, but by chance she meets Bob, and they help each other.

 

The thing I liked about this, was that it wasn't necessarily an affair that Bob and Charlotte were having. At the most, it was an emotional one, but so many other stories could've gone in a different direction than this one did. That kiss at the end? The film would've worked without it. I appreciate it for being so unique and honest. It's obvious to me that Sofia Coppola wrote this character with Bill Murray in mind, he's perfect as Bob. Normally, Scarlett Johansson doesn't impress me much. I'd say she's mediocre at best. (but she's so hot, it almost doesn't matter) This is her best work. It's amazing to think she was only 17 when she shot this. She seems so beyond her years.

 

It's probably due to The Bling Ring being in theaters, but I felt like so many people have been talking about Lost in Translation over the past few weeks, that this was just a perfect time to revisit it. I'm glad I did.

 

Grade: A

 

Memorable Quote: "I hope you've had enough to drink. It's going to take courage." - Bob Harris (Bill Murray)